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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 22, 2004 Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) Contact: Cleveland Resident Wins Award Walter I. Zborowsky of Cleveland, Ohio, was recently selected as the recipient of the Elsie D. Helsel Advocacy Award. The award, including a cash award, is given annually by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) for outstanding advocacy on behalf of people with developmental disabilities. Elsie Helsel of Athens, Ohio, is a long-time advocate for people with disabilities on both state and national levels. Zborowsky distinguished himself with his advocacy efforts on state and local levels. On the state level, he became a formidable advocate because he made himself an expert in complex areas such as Medicaid, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), residential funding and legislation. And if policymakers tried to ignore him, Zborowsky did not hesitate to pursue litigation. He was also a major architect of reform legislation that enacted the Ohio Bill of Rights for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. He has testified before legislative committees at state and national levels. His local efforts have had a major impact in the lives of hundreds of people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities in the Cuyahoga County Community. He developed and operated homes for people with disabilities and provided training programs to allow more people with disabilities to live independently. Additionally, he has trained future professionals as a faculty member at Cleveland State University. The ODDC is one of a national network of state councils committed to self-determination and community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. ODDC receives federal funding to help carry out its mission of developing new and better ways of advocating, increasing capacities to assist people, and making needed changes to systems. ODDC consists of 35 members appointed by the Governor. Members are people with developmental disabilities, parents and guardians of people with developmental disabilities, representatives from concerned state agencies, and nonprofit organizations and agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities. | Home | About Us | Calendar of Events | Grants and NOFAs | Publications and Products | Site Map | What's New |
